Sudan Closes Borders with Libya, Central African Republic

Arab World

September 27th, 8:36am

Khartoum - Ahmed Younis

Smugglers stand next to vehicles after being stopped by Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during an operation in a remote desert area near the Libyan border on September 25, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah.

Sudan announced Thursday that it was closing its borders with Libya and Central African Republic on, citing security and economic "dangers". A statement by the Sovereign Transitional Council said vehicles had been illegally crossing the borders with the two nations, which have both been mired in violence. The announcement followed a meeting between the Council and the government of South Darfur State in Niyala, the statement by the ruling body said.  In recent years, media reports have claimed that many rebels from Sudan's war-torn region of Darfur had crossed into Libya to build up their military capabilities. Darfur fell into widespread conflict in 2003. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the years-long conflict and more than two million displaced, according to the United Nations.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1921041/sudan-closes-borders-libya-central-african-republic